FMPHWs stage protest dharna, demand release of salary

Excelsior Correspondent

FMPHWs taking out protest rally from the office complex of DHS Jammu on Friday. —Excelsior/Rakesh
FMPHWs taking out protest rally from the office complex of DHS Jammu on Friday. —Excelsior/Rakesh

JAMMU, June 19: The Female Multipurpose Health Workers (FMPHWs) working under 2211-Family Welfare, who are without salary for last 16-18 months today staged a protest dharna in Madam Shashi Bala Memorial Park, Directorate of Health Services (DHS) Jammu.
The protest was held under the leadership of Neelam Kumari, general secretary, Jammu Kashmir FMPHWs Association and Sushil Sudan, president, JKMEF. A large number of FMPHWs from all blocks of Jammu division gathered in the said Park and shouted slogans in support of their demands. The employees from SHTO working under 2211 Family Welfare also participated in the dharma.
The protesting FMPHWs alleged that they are at the age of starvation as the Government has not released their salary for the last more than 16-18 months.
“We are facing immense financial problems and are living the life of penury, as despite repeated requests made to the Director, Family Welfare, J&K, and Minister for Health, Choudhary Lal Singh, for releasing our salaries, nothing has been done except giving assurances”, they added.
While criticizing the Government, president, JKMEF, Sushil Sudan, once again urged the authorities to settle the issue of FMPHWs once and for all. He warned that if their salary is not released then FMPHWs will be forced to accelerate their agitation and authorities will be responsible for the consequences.
Later, protesting FMPHWs and leaders of JKMEF took out rally from DHS office complex towards city and shouted slogans against the authorities.
Meanwhile, it was decided that FMPHWs will stage next protest dharna on June 23 at the same venue in case their salary is not released by then.